MODERN OR TRADITIONAL - A STUDY OF TREATMENT PREFERENCE FOR NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS IN BOTSWANA

Subjects in Botswana were asked to state their preference between modern (doctor or nurse) or indigenous (traditional or religious healer) care for 3 case vignettes of epilepsy, psychosis and tuberculosis. Nurses, medical patients and a general village population were studied. Many subjects preferred modern care for all disorders, whilst a small number favored indigenous treatment only. A significant percentage discriminated between disorders, choosing indigenous care for some and modern for others. Indigenous care was most favored for epilepsy, and least for tuberculosis. Psychosis took an intermediate position. The size of this discriminating group varied between populations, but the overall pattern of attitudes remained the same. Neither demographic factors nor etiological beliefs consistently identified those who choose indigenous care.